The Norfolk Historic District encompasses the historic civic and commercial center of

Norfolk, Connecticut Norfolk () is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2020 census. The urban center of the town is the Norfolk census-designated place, with a population of 553 at the 2010 census. Norfolk is per ...

. Centered around a triangular green at the junction of

United States Route 44 U.S. Route 44 (US 44) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway that runs for through four states in the Northeastern United States. The western terminus is at US 209 and New York State Route 55 (NY 55) in Kerhonkson, ...

and

Connecticut Route 272 Route 272 is a state highway in northwestern Connecticut running from Torrington to the Massachusetts state-board in Norfolk. Route description Route 272 begins at an intersection with Route 4 in West Torrington and heads northwest along the ...

, it is a well-preserved late 19th to early 20th-century town center, with a number of architecturally distinctive buildings and structures. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1979.

Description and history

The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. Early growth was due in part to industry that developed on the

Blackberry River The Blackberry River is a westward-flowing river located entirely in the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The river runs for through the towns of Norfolk and North Canaan, where it empties into the Housatonic River. The rive ...

near the town center, of which no significant traces remain. Its main period of growth began with the arrival in 1871 of the railroad, which led to the town's growth as a summer resort, marketed for its high elevation and fresh air. The town center benefited architecturally from the philanthropic activities of the interrelated Robbins-Battell-Stoeckel families, who contributed churches, civic buildings, and memorials to the town center. The major element of the town center, the former Stoeckel estate, is now home to the Yale Music School's summer programs. and The historic district covers about , most of which consists of the Stoeckel estate, located west of the town green. The triangular town green is the district's main focal point, with two churches (one early 19th century Federal style, the other later Romanesque) facing it from the west, the Norfolk Public Library (a handsome Shingle style building designed by George Keller in 1888) facing it from the north, and mainly older homes facing it from the east. At its southern tip is a memorial fountain designed by architect

Stanford White Stanford White (November 9, 1853 – June 25, 1906) was an American architect. He was also a partner in the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, one of the most significant Beaux-Arts firms. He designed many houses for the rich, in additio ...

. North of the green is a small business district, also included in the historic district. Several buildings in this area were designed by the noted New York architect Alfredo S.G. Taylor, who summered in Norfolk.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in Litchfield County, Connecticut Victorian architecture in Connecticut Norfolk, Connecticut

Description and history

See also

References